Nation Bids Farewell To Gerald Ford

The nation honored Gerald R. Ford on Tuesday under towering cathedral arches, a high-powered fanfare for the common man who was summoned to the presidency in the crisis that drove his predecessor from office.

"In President Ford, the world saw the best of America and America found a man whose character and leadership would bring calm and healing to one of the most divisive moments in our nation's history," President Bush said in his eulogy.

The elaborate invitation-only service at the Washington National Cathedral was the final assembly in the capital's portion of the state funeral for the 38th president, prior to Ford's interment Wednesday in Grand Rapids, Mich.

The elder President Bush, opening the eulogies, called Ford a "Norman Rockwell painting come to life" and pierced the solemnity of the occasion by cracking gentle jokes about Ford's reputation as an errant golfer. Former President Clinton and Vice President Dick Cheney joined in the laughter.

Henry Kissinger, Ford's secretary of state, paid tribute to Ford's leadership in achieving nuclear arms control with the Soviets, in the first political agreement between Israel and Egypt and in helping to bring majority rule to southern Africa, among other achievements often overlooked in the modest man.

"In his understated way he did his duty as a leader, not as a performer playing to the gallery," Kissinger said. "Gerald Ford had the virtues of small-town America."

Another eulogist, former NBC news anchor Tom Brokaw, praised Ford as "the champion of Main Street values," and said he "left the Oval Office a much better place."

In his remarks, Mr. Bush said, "When President Nixon needed to replace a vice president who had resigned in scandal, he naturally turned to a man whose name was a synonym for integrity. And eight months later, when he was elevated to the presidency, it was because America needed him, not because he needed the office."

The president escorted Ford's widow, Betty, down and the aisle of the great stone cathedral, which stretches nearly the length of two football fields and has soaring towers, 215 stained glass windows and an organ with 10,650 pipes. Funeral services were held in the cathedral for former presidents Eisenhower in 1969 and Reagan in 2004, and ex-President Woodrow Wilson is buried there.

All three living ex-presidents, Clinton, the elder Bush and Jimmy Carter, who defeated Ford in 1976, attended Tuesday's service.

Supreme Court justices including John Roberts and Clarence Thomas were in the pews. Incoming House speaker Nancy Pelosi of California exchanged a brief handshake but no words with incoming House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer of Maryland; the two Democrats have a testy relationship.

Among others at the cathedral: Nancy Reagan, who mourned her husband Ronald there in 2004; former Secretary of State Colin Powell; and former New York mayor Rudolph Giuliani, a presidential prospect for 2008.

Following the service, Ford's body was put on a plane bound for Grand Rapids, Mich., the city where he grew up and where his remains will be laid to rest.

Thousands of average Americans filed into the Capitol Rotunda over two days and a night to pay final respects to Ford.

Afterward, Ford's remains briefly lay in repose outside the Senate chamber in tribute to his tenure as Senate president when he served as Nixon's vice president. Similarly, his casket had rested outside the House chamber upon its arrival Saturday in remembrance of his quarter-century as a Michigan congressman.

The thunder of cannon heralded Ford's departure from the Capitol, a military honor guard carrying his casket down the steps as Mrs. Ford watched and his honorary pallbearers stood with hands over their hearts.

Outside the Senate chamber earlier, the historic Ohio Clock Corridor was alive with symbolism around the casket. Ford's vice presidential bust had been moved at the family's request from around the corner to the door of the chamber for the occasion, gazing over the casket.

Ford's children and half-brother, Jack, paused in their prayers to glance briefly from the bust to the casket.

Off to their right stood a reminder of how Ford rose to his place in history. Set back in a niche stood a bust of Nixon, the head turned toward the casket.

Ford died at 93 on Dec. 26 at his home in Rancho Mirage, Calif.

The national funeral service capped Washington's portion of a state funeral that began in Palm Desert, Calif., in a church where the Fords worshipped during is retirement, and will conclude with a final public visitation in Grand Rapids, a private service, and interment on a hillside overlooking his museum.

"It's a very close family," Rev. Robert Certain, the Ford family's pastor from California, told CBS News' The Early Show. "They're one of the most wonderful couples I've ever known. They're gentle, they're kind, they're thoughtful. They're self-effacing in many ways.

"This theme of the president coming home goes throughout this whole week. Coming home to Washington, where he served his country so well, coming home to Michigan. Coming to his heavenly home," Certain said.

Former Sen. Bob Dole, an old friend of Ford's and an honorary pallbearer, said he was amazed at the public outpouring of admiration for a man who was never elected president.

"I was very impressed and frankly a little surprised," said Dole. "The lines were long and I saw the people lined up in Alexandria when we passed through there the other night. Not many suits — just good ordinary good people from all over."

Political analyst Douglas Brinkley told CBS News that one of the reasons for the groundswell of appreciation for Ford is that "we've become such a polarized society. Democrats and Republicans are fighting so much. Here's a centrist," Brinkley said of Ford. "We're honoring this smart, Midwest centrist."

Ford was appointed vice president in 1973 by Nixon to replace Spiro Agnew, who resigned in a bribery scandal stemming from his days as Maryland governor. After Nixon resigned, Ford assumed the presidency for 2½ years.

A month after taking office, Ford pardoned Nixon for any Watergate crimes he might have committed.